And shall we think so great a Mystery as this was for small purpose?1 2That the great God should take upon him a Piece of Earth? That he should become a poor and weak man? The immortal God to take upon him our flesh, and to dye? That he whom Heaven and Earth cannot comprehend, should be enclosed in the Womb of a Virgin? For him to be so abased, as there was never any abasement like unto Christs,3 because of the greatness of his Person? If Angels had done so, alas, they were inferior creatures, they were servants to God: but for the Son of God to take our nature, when it was so low! for so excellent a Person, to be abased so low! There was none ever suffered that, that God in our flesh suffered: For, as communion with his Father, was sweeter to him, then to all men besides; so, for him to want communion with his ⟨p. 58⟩Father upon the Cross, when he cried, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? It was the greatest abasement to him, being the most sensible of it; therefore there was no suffering, like that of Christs. And shall we think, so great a matter was for small purpose; for little sins, or for few sins only? Oh no; it was to give a foundation to our Faith, in all extremity of temptations;4 to stay our Conscience, in the guilt of great and crying sins. Oh, despair not, despair not; this Great Mystery the Apostle speaks of, for the great God to become man, it was for great sins; that, where Sin hath abounded, Grace might super-abound: God intended in this, to set down the accusing Conscience, to quiet and still it. God is offended, it is true; but, God manifest in the flesh, hath made reconciliation, and satisfaction: He was a Sacrifice for sin, and God will answer God. God the Son, will answer the displeasure of God the Father, because he is appointed to this Office by him:5 He is set forth, as it is Rom. 3. to be the propitiation. Therefore in all risings of Conscience in the time of trouble, in the hour of death, let us remember this Great Mystery, God manifest in the flesh. Gods purpose in this, was to triumph (as it were) over all the clamours of Conscience whatsoever; over all things that Satan object what he will, here is a shield put into the hand of Faith, to beat back all his fiery darts.
And shall we thinke so great a Mysterie as this was for small purpose?1 2That the great God should take upon him a Piece of Earth? That he should become a poore and weake man? The immortall God to take upon him our flesh, and to dye? That he whom Heaven and Earth cannot comprehend, should be inclosed in the Wombe of a Virgin? For him to be so abased, as there was never any abasement like unto Christs,3 because of the greatnesse of his Person? If Angels had done so, alas, they were inferiour creatures, they were servants to God: but for the Sonne of God to take our nature, when it was so low! for so excellent a Person, to be abased so low! There was none ever suffered that, that God in our flesh suffered: For, as communion with his Father, was sweeter to him, then to all men besides; so, for him to want communion with his ⟨p. 58⟩Father upon the Crosse, when he cryed, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? It was the greatest abasement to him, being the most sensible of it; therefore there was no suffering, like that of Christs. And shall we thinke, so great a matter was for small purpose; for little sinnes, or for few sinnes onely? Oh no; it was to give a foundation to our Faith, in all extremitie of temptations;4 to stay our Conscience, in the guilt of great and crying sinnes. Oh, despaire not, despaire not; this Great Mysterie the Apostle speakes of, for the great God to become man, it was for great sinnes; that, where Sinne hath abounded, Grace might super-abound: God intended in this, to set downe the accusing Conscience, to quiet and still it. God is offended, it is true; but, God manifest in the flesh, hath made reconciliation, and satisfaction: Hee was a Sacrifice for sinne, and God will answer God. God the Sonne, will answer the displeasure of God the Father, because he is appointed to this Office by him:5 He is set forth, as it is Rom. 3. to be the propitiation. Therefore in all risings of Conscience in the time of trouble, in the houre of death, let us remember this Great Mysterie, God manifest in the flesh. Gods purpose in this, was to triumph (as it were) over all the clamours of Conscience whatsoever; over all things that Satan object what he will, here is a shield put into the hand of Faith, to beat back all his fierie darts.
- 1Use 1.Vse 1.
- 2Christ took our flesh for great purpose.Christ tooke our flesh for great purpose.
- 3Greatness of Christs abasement.Greatnesse of Christs abasement.
- 4Comfort against despair.Comfort against despaire.
- 5Rom. 3.
